The Unofficial Word... $3K

I just got off the phone with a representative of Shaohannah's Hope regarding our grant application. Although an official letter will be in the mail in the next week or so, the woman said she had just received word back from the committee that we will receive a $3000 grant from them!!! Notice I said a grant and NOT a loan! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

This just in... go and purchase any and all Steven Curtiss Chapman CDs you can get your hands on. As Shaohannah's Hope is the organization he formed after he and his wife adopted, I think everyone should now buy all of his CDs!

God continues to bless us! Thanks for celebrating with us as our journey continues!

#39

What's in a number? Well, for us, we found out today we are number 39 on the waiting list for a referral (regardless of specific criteria set up by adopting families). So that means there are 38 families in front of us who are waiting for a referral with America World. However, we move up as a boy becomes available. We move up again as an infant boy becomes available, and again as a boy 0-12 months becomes available. Kathee was told today that well over half of the people in front of us are waiting for girls. We are not sure where we are on the list for those families waiting for an infant boy between the age of 0 and 12 months. This is greatly encouraging news! As more and more families receive referrals each month we continue to move up the list! Over the past few months, if my memory serves me correctly, they are receiving around 10 to 12 referrals.
So as we continue to praise the Lord for His goodness and sovereignty in this process, our referral gets ever closer.

To Him be the glory which is His due!

Everyone Loves a Husker Baby

So here is a picture of the onezy that Rhonda gave us. This isn't so much an update as it as an attempt to upload a picture to go with a blog post.

America World Adoption January Newsletter for Ethiopia

The Ethiopia program has gone through a lot of changes in the past month. America World added more than 20 employees to our international office including Rachel Ward, who will be moving to Ethiopia in January. Additionally, the Ethiopia Program has undergone some changes in the US office. Laurel (Ludwick) Hanlon will soon be leaving America World to focus on completing her Master’s in Social Work. We are sad to see her go but are also excited for her in her future endeavors. Beginning in January, Duni Zenaye will assume the role of Africa Program Director and will be working directly with families in the Ethiopia program.

America World had five successful court dates in December. These families will be traveling to Ethiopia in January to pick up their children.

Please Pray

We received this email this afternoon regarding this little girl. As we go further in this process, we are finding out more and more that it takes a special couple to adopt. This, in my opinion, is a special grace that God gives His beloved well-equipped for something of this magnitude. Please be in prayer for her and the family as she awaits a family!

Dear Families,

This email is being sent to everyone whose dossier is already in Ethiopia. We have been given a special referral of a baby girl.

Name: (I removed her name as I'm not sure if this is supposed to be common knowledge)

Age: Approximately 7 months

Special Need: HIV+

We have detailed information about her prognosis. We have also consulted a doctor in the US about her condition. Interested families can email me at to receive her picture and medical as well as social history. Decision will be made based on the number of interested families, the date of Dossier submission and your social workers' recommendation. We also ask for your prayer for her as we look to place her with a family.

Blessings,

Africa Program Director

The Baby Shower

On Saturday afternoon, Kathee's sister Sharon threw a baby shower for us (although interestingly I wasn't there). The ladies from my family (my mother, sister-in-law Kris, sister-in-law Jenn, and Aunt Beth), Sharon, and some ladies from our church met at our friend Julie's house. They had a phenomenal time of prayer, sharing of wisdom for motherhood, opening presents, and having time together as ladies.
I am gaining more and more excitement as the time draws nearer. Going through the generous gifts that we received makes it all the more real. How exciting!
And I am overjoyed that these godly ladies surrounded Kathee in preparing her for the mothering side of parenting. Naturally, my mother had the most "mothering advice" as she has been one for 37 years.
While they were meeting at Julie's, my dad, brother Nathan and his kids Samuel, Ava, and Otto, brother Aaron and his kids Noah, Jonah, Elijah, and Miriam, and brother-in-law Jamie hung out at the John Deere Pavilion where the kids were able to climb all over the huge John Deere tractors that are on display.
Afterwards, as our home is too small for everyone, we went to the church and ate together (21 of us I believe) in the high school youth room.
Still no word from Shoahannah's Hope about the grant. We continue to be patient with that knowing that God's timing is perfect!
That's it for now. The wait continues!